GreenlyWhat to plant in June in California
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in June in California, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (San Jose, Fresno and 5 more): celeriac, celery and chayote; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Los Angeles, San Diego and 1 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 23 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (San Francisco): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 21 more.
In California, June is summer.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield and 3 more
In June, on average, these cities have highs of 84 to 99 °F and lows of 56 to 69 °F, 0.0 to 0.4 in of rain on 0 to 1 days; the day lasts 14 h 24 min to 15 h 04 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in June in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in August | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | San Jose |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | San Jose |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Cucumber, melon, achocha | San Jose |
| start indoors, plant out in September | Celeriac, celery | San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside and 1 more |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in September | Chayote | San Jose, Sacramento, Riverside and 1 more |
Compared with May: new — soybean; no longer sown — arugula.
Not starting in June: lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, sown direct) — dates for Sacramento.
Ready to harvest in June in Sacramento, if sown in the right month: cabbage (February), green beans (April), bok choy (April), borage (April), corn (March), Florence fennel (March) and Napa cabbage (April).
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara
In June, on average, these cities have highs of 73 to 82 °F and lows of 57 to 61 °F, 0.1 to 0.2 in of rain on 1 days; the day lasts 14 h 18 min to 14 h 27 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in June in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens | San Diego |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Cauliflower | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | all |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | all |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Cucumber, melon, achocha | all |
| start indoors, plant out in September | Celeriac, celery | all |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in August | Moringa | all |
| sow direct | Arugula | San Diego and Santa Barbara |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Brussels Sprouts | San Diego |
Compared with May: no longer sown — lettuce, radish, Swiss chard and kohlrabi.
Not starting in June: lettuce (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Santa Barbara.
Ready to harvest in June in Santa Barbara, if sown in the right month: broad bean (March), peas (April), lettuce (April), cabbage (February), broccoli (March), Swiss chard (April), beet (April) and parsley (April).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: San Francisco
In June, on average, San Francisco has highs of 63 °F and lows of 54 °F, 0.0 in of rain on 0 days; the day lasts 14 h 46 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in June in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip, turnip | San Francisco |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in July | Cauliflower | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in August | Leek, Brussels sprouts | San Francisco |
The same as in May.
Not starting in June: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (no month outdoors by these rules) and green beans (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for San Francisco.
Ready to harvest in June in San Francisco, if sown in the right month: broad bean (March), peas (April), spinach (April), lettuce (April), radish (May), carrot (April), cabbage (February) and broccoli (March).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in June and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in June if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
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